Fordham University School of Law

School Description

Welcome to Fordham

Fordham Law School has provided a complete education in the law for more than a century. While the legal profession has changed during that time, the core mission of a Fordham Law education has not. We value academic excellence, the pursuit of justice, and the ethical practice of the lawyer’s craft. We impart the warmth of community within the School and wherever Fordham Law alumni are found around the globe. Fordham lawyers are dedicated to the highest standards of the legal profession and using the law “in the service of others.” We call this the Fordham Law Difference.

Put simply, Fordham Law stands apart because we offer a complete legal education.

Here, a solid grounding in legal theory is balanced with hands-on learning about the craft of lawyering. Our students benefit from a curriculum and faculty that has earned a reputation for excellence. Their studies are enriched by essential and innovative international opportunities. And they graduate prepared to practice law—from day one.

At Fordham Law, a spirit of service has been central since our founding in 1905. Our focus on ethics helps students navigate the difficult issues they'll face as they pursue careers in our increasingly complex world. Our community of alumni provides a supportive network around the country and around the globe. And our dynamic location in New York City ensures our students access to opportunities that can only be found in a world-class city.

Fordham Law Facts

Fordham Law School is a leading force in legal education with one of the nation's most select student bodies, an enduring commitment to academic excellence, and a virtually unrivaled record of graduate employment.

This school also offers:

LLM

Students seeking the LLM in Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law acquire a sophisticated appreciation of corporate structure, an understanding of the laws relating to capital markets and financial institutions, and genuine insights into the goals and strategies of U.S. executives and business lawyers.
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Students seeking the LLM in Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law acquire a sophisticated appreciation of corporate structure, an understanding of the laws relating to capital markets and financial institutions, and genuine insights into the goals and strategies of U.S. executives and business lawyers.
In this program, students enroll in core courses including Corporations, International Banking Law, Banking Law, or Financial Institutions and choose from a broad array of additional courses in corporate, banking, and finance law and related topics. Through these courses, students explore such areas as bankruptcy, corporate finance, corporate governance, corporate tax, cross-border insolvency, mergers and acquisitions, and securities regulation and enforcement.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include the following Core Course:
Corporations
And at least one of the following Core Distribution Courses:
Banking Law
International Banking Law
Financial Institutions I
Financial Institutions II
We recommend that students in this program register for Corporations during their first semester of study (or shortly thereafter for part-time students), as Corporations may be a pre-requisite for many other courses of interest.
Note that students may not receive credit for both Banking Law and Financial Institutions I, as they cover substantially the same material. Financial Institutions I and Financial Institutions II are independent courses and students may take either or both, in any order.
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law program
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
For students who do not hold a JD degree from a U.S. law school, the following courses are also required:
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System*
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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Fordham Law’s LLM in Corporate Compliance—the first of its kind in the country—introduces students to a rapidly emerging field that is often global in scope. This unique program prepares candidates to respond effectively to new and complex regulatory demands.
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Fordham Law’s LLM in Corporate Compliance — the first of its kind in the country—introduces students to a rapidly emerging field that is often global in scope. This unique program prepares candidates to respond effectively to new and complex regulatory demands. Students will explore the role of in-house counsel, the corporate compliance office, and the elements of compliance, including risk assessment, attorney-client privilege, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, global codes of conduct, crisis management, deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements, and corporate social responsibility. Students will learn the basic regulatory framework, especially in the banking and financial regulatory industries, and will be trained in the skills that are essential for any compliance professional.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include Corporations* as well as 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Corporate Compliance program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include the following core courses:
Global Corporate Compliance
Compliance Risk Assessment
We also strongly recommend students to take either International Financial Crime or Anti-Money Laundering.
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution requirement must be chosen from among the selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Corporate Compliance program.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
For students who do not hold a JD degree from a U.S. law school, the following courses are also required:
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
Note: If a course can fulfill both (i) a Specialization Distribution requirement and (ii) a Content Outline requirement, the course may count toward both requirements.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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LLM students in the Fashion Law program will study with the most distinguished faculty in the discipline, including both academics and industry insiders—in New York City, a capital of the world’s fashion industry.
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LLM students in the Fashion Law program will study with the most distinguished faculty in the discipline, including both academics and industry insiders—in New York City, a capital of the world’s fashion industry.
You’ll explore what we’ve defined as the four pillars of fashion law:
intellectual property
business and finance, including areas such as investment, employment law, and real estate
international trade and government regulation, including sustainability, privacy, and issues related to wearable technology
consumer culture and civil rights
You’ll also gain direct access to events and networking opportunities available through the nonprofit Fashion Law Institute. Established with the assistance of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, it’s the world’s first center dedicated to the law and business of fashion—and it’s based at Fordham Law.
CURRICULUM FOR U.S. JD HOLDERS
If you hold a JD from a law school in the U.S., you must take the following classes:
Fashion Law* (3 credits)
Fashion Law Capstone/Thesis (3 credits; final semester)
At least four of the following courses designated "FASH" on the course listing published on the registrar's website:
Fashion Ethics, Sustainability, and Development (2 or 3 credits)
Fashion Law and Finance (2 credits)
Fashion Licensing (2 credits)
Fashion Modeling Law (2 or 3 credits)
Fashion Retail Law (2 credits)
Fashion Law Practicum (3 credits)
(Note: limited enrollment
Additional electives, chosen from the range of courses open to LLM students, for a total of 24 credits. Consider choosing electives that complement your fashion-related courses and cover areas of legal specialization important to fashion law that you may not have studied in the past.
CURRICULUM FOR NON-U.S. LAW DEGREE HOLDERS (BAR EXAM OPTION)
Below are the requirements for non-U.S. law degree holders. This option fulfills the requirements of the "Cure Provision," which allows foreign-trained lawyers and law students with a "Qualifying" first degree in law to sit for the New York Bar Examination. For more details, see www.nybarexam.org and click on "Foreign Legal Education."
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System (2 credits)
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students (2 credits)
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession (2 credits) or another Professional Responsibility course (3 credits)
6 credits in subjects tested on the New York bar exam from the list available at law.fordham.edu/llm/contentoutline. Consider choosing courses that will not only assist in your studying for the bar exam but also complement your fashion-related courses and cover areas of legal specialization important to fashion law that you may not have studied in the past.
Fashion Law* (3 credits)
Fashion Law Capstone/Thesis (3 credits; final semester)
6 credits from the following courses designated "FASH" on the course schedule published on the registrar's website:
Fashion Ethics, Sustainability, and Development (2 or 3 credits)
Fashion Law and Finance (2 credits)
Fashion Licensing (2 credits)
Fashion Modeling Law (2 or 3 credits)
Fashion Retail Law (2 credits)
Fashion Law Practicum (3 credits) (Note: limited enrollment)
Students who completed the Fashion Law Institute's Fashion Law Bootcamp(R) summer intensive program are exempt from the Fashion Law course requirement and should instead take 3 other credits of their choice.
CURRICULUM FOR NON-U.S. LAW DEGREE HOLDERS (BAR EXAM WAIVER)
Below are the requirements for non-U.S. law degree holders. This option does not fulfill the requirements of the "Cure Provision," which allows foreign-trained lawyers and law students with a "Qualifying" first degree in law to sit for the New York Bar Examination. For more details, see www.nybarexam.org and click on "Foreign Legal Education."
Before making course selections that will make you ineligible to sit for the New York Bar Examination, please consult with a program advisor. A waiver is required to exercise this option ("Request for Waiver from LLM Program Requirement," available on LawNET Forms Central).
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System (2 credits)
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students (2 credits)
Fashion Law* (3 credits)
Fashion Law Capstone/Thesis (3 credits; final semester)
At least four of the following courses designated "FASH" on the course schedule published on the registrar's website:
Fashion Ethics, Sustainability, and Development (2 or 3 credits)
Fashion Law and Finance (2 credits)
Fashion Licensing (2 credits)
Fashion Modeling Law (2 or 3 credits)
Fashion Retail Law (2 credits)
Fashion Law Practicum (3 credits) (Note: limited enrollment)
Additional electives, chosen from the range of courses open to LLM students, for a total of 24 credits. Consider choosing electives that complement your fashion-related courses and cover areas of legal specialization important to fashion law that you may not have studied in the past.
Students who completed the Fashion Law Institute's Fashion Law Bootcamp(R) summer intensive program are exempt from the Fashion Law course requirement and should instead take 3 other credits of their choice.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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This unique program combines the classic study of intellectual property rights with the rapidly emerging field of information technology law.
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This unique program combines the classic study of intellectual property rights with the rapidly emerging field of information technology law. Students study fundamental and advanced intellectual property rights issues in copyright, patent, and trademark law and also learn about issues that lie at the heart of today’s digital information society, such as cybercrime, e-commerce, information privacy law, and Internet law. Core courses include Copyright Law, Intellectual Property Law, Internet Regulation, Mass Media Law, Patent Law, and Trademark Law. Students also choose from more advanced and specialized courses in the fields of information technology and intellectual property law.
CREDIT HOURS
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 27.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include at least 6 credits from the following Core Distribution Courses:
Copyright Law
Information Law Survey
Intellectual Property Law
Patent Law
Trademark Law
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law program.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
For students who do not hold a degree from a U.S. law school, the following courses are also required:
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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Fordham’s Master of Laws program in International Dispute Resolution will focus on the various ways that international disputes are resolved, including through traditional litigation as well as alternative methods of dispute resolution, such as arbitration and mediation.
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Fordham’s Master of Laws program in International Dispute Resolution will focus on the various ways that international disputes are resolved, including through traditional litigation as well as alternative methods of dispute resolution, such as arbitration and mediation.
While traditional methods of dispute resolution remain important, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are growing rapidly as a preferred method of resolving disputes between parties in public and private international law matters. It is increasingly important for lawyers to have a strong understanding of both the principles underlying each of these methods and the processes involved. This program offers students the opportunity to explore in depth the various options for the adjudication of disputes, and especially to examine how they are played out in the international arena. Foreign students will develop an appreciation for the U.S. common law system generally, and will learn some of the particular characteristics of the U.S. litigation model.
CREDIT HOURS
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 27.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Dispute Resolution program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include the following Core Courses:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Litigation Management for the International Lawyer
Litigation Management for the International Lawyer is not required for students who hold a JD from a U.S. law school.
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Dispute Resolution program.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
For students who do not hold a degree from a U.S. law school, the following courses are also required:
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
Note: If a course can fulfill both (i) a Core Course or Core Distribution Course requirement and (ii) a Content Outline requirement, the course may count toward both requirements. For example, Litigation Management for the International Lawyer counts toward the Core Course requirement and will count simultaneously toward the Content Outline requirement.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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This program offers students the opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of human rights protection and promotion on international, regional, and domestic levels. The degree is designed primarily for lawyers and students who work or intend to pursue a career in the public sector, including high-level government attorneys, leaders in nongovernmental organizations, and academics.
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This program offers students the opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of human rights protection and promotion on international, regional, and domestic levels. The degree is designed primarily for lawyers and students who work or intend to pursue a career in the public sector, including high-level government attorneys, leaders in nongovernmental organizations, and academics.
This LLM program was created under the auspices of Fordham Law’s Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, one of the largest and most dynamic human rights programs in the nation. The Center’s Vivian Leitner Global South LLM Scholars Program offers generous scholarships and stipends to enable select graduate students from the developing world to enroll in this program.
CREDIT HOURS
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 27.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Law and Justice program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include the following Core Course:
International Law
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Law and Justice program.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
For students who do not hold a degree from a U.S. law school, the following courses are also required:
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System*
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students*
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession**†
At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses**
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
Note: If a course can fulfill both a Specialization Distribution Course requirement and a Content Outline requirement, the course may count toward both requirements. For example, Family Law (3 credits) counts toward the Specialization Distribution Course requirement and will also count toward the Content Outline requirement, leaving 3 credits of Content Outline Courses and 9 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses to be fulfilled.
Scholarship Applicants
Prospective students applying for the Vivian Leitner Global South scholarship for the LLM in International Law and Justice must submit their application directly to the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School. For application instructions and deadlines, visit the Global South LLM Scholars Program webpage.
Scholarship applicants who are not awarded the Vivian Leitner scholarship will be given the option to transfer their application to the LLM program office to be considered for regular admission. Applicants will be asked to submit the $70 application fee at that time.
Program Applicants
Applicants who do not wish to be considered for the Vivian Leitner Global South scholarship are welcome to apply for the LLM in International Law and Justice directly through the LLM program office.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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This program prepares students to meet the challenges of an increasingly global economy by giving them the knowledge and training needed to handle complex transnational transactions that define the current legal and business environment.
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This program prepares students to meet the challenges of an increasingly global economy by giving them the knowledge and training needed to handle complex transnational transactions that define the current legal and business environment.
This program includes core courses in European Union Law, International Law, International Business Transactions, and International Trade Regulation, as well as a range of elective courses in such subjects as Admiralty and International Maritime Law, U.S. Contract Law, International Arbitration, and Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions. Students may also choose courses from an evolving curriculum that reflects current global economic power players with courses such as Islamic Finance and Estate Planning and China and International Law.
CREDIT HOURS
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 27.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Business and Trade Law program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include at least two of the following four Core Distribution Courses:
European Union Law or European Union Business Law
International Business Transactions
International Law
International Trade Regulation/International Trade Law
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Business and Trade Law program.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
For students who do not hold a JD degree from a U.S. law school, the following courses are also required:
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
Note: If a course can fulfill both a Specialization Distribution Course requirement and a Content Outline requirement, the course may count toward both requirements. For example, Corporations (4 credits) counts toward the Specialization Distribution Course requirement and will also count toward the Content Outline requirement, leaving 2 credits of Content Outline Courses and 8 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses to be fulfilled.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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This program offers students the flexibility to develop a curriculum in U.S. law topics that suits their particular needs and interests. This degree is designed for students who have received their primary legal education in civil law countries and who plan to return to their home countries within a few years of receiving the LLM degree.
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This program offers students the flexibility to develop a curriculum in U.S. law topics that suits their particular needs and interests. This degree is designed for students who have received their primary legal education in civil law countries and who plan to return to their home countries within a few years of receiving the LLM degree. It is most suitable for civil-trained lawyers and law students who work in government service, general law practice, or academia.
Prior to Fall 2015, this program was called "U.S. and Comparative Law." The program title was changed; however, the curriculum remains the same. Degrees awarded May 2015 or earlier will have the former name; all degrees awarded thereafter will bear the new name.
CREDIT HOURS
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 27.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include the following Core Course:
Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students
Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses
Students are also urged to take at least one course on a topic of Comparative Law.
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).
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